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The Cigar & Whiskey Guide

History - Culture - Lifestyle Episodes

Cigars and whiskey aren’t just about taste — they’re about culture, history, and community. In this category, we step beyond the glass and humidor to explore lounges, etiquette, legendary figures, and the rituals that shape this timeless lifestyle. Expect stories from history, interviews, travel notes, and reflections on the slow-living mindset that defines cigar and whiskey culture. This is where passion meets tradition.
Oct. 23, 2025

How One "Madman" Revolutionized Cigars—The Untold Corojo Story

This episode of Smoke Signals dives into the legendary story of Corojo, the iconic Cuban tobacco leaf that transformed the world of premium cigars. Listeners are taken to the red clay fields of Vuelta Abajo, where relentless innovation led to the creation of Corojo—famed for its silky texture, …

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Oct. 16, 2025

The Day Bourbon Burned: The Heaven Hill Distillery Fire

In this episode of Smoke Signals, hosts Bo Kauffmann and Smoke Signals Promo recount the dramatic 1996 Heaven Hill Distillery fire in Bardstown, Kentucky—a disaster that destroyed 90,000 bourbon barrels and threatened a cornerstone of American whiskey. The story highlights the solidarity among riva…

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Oct. 3, 2025

JFK’s 1,200 Cigars and the Cuban Embargo Story

JFK cigars — 1,200 Petit Coronas gathered before the 1962 Cuban embargo. This episode uncovers the secret midnight mission led by Pierre Salinger, the irony behind Kennedy’s famous stash, and how one signature reshaped the entire cigar industry. From Havana to the Dominican Republic, the story blen…

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Sept. 26, 2025

Civil War Smokes: Cigars in Blue and Grey Camps

Civil War Cigars: Smoke, Survival, and Secret Orders Cigars weren’t just luxuries in the Civil War—they were lifelines. Soldiers in blue and grey traded tobacco for coffee, shared smokes after battle, and once changed history with three cigars wrapped around General Robert E. Lee’s lost orders. …

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Sept. 22, 2025

The Whiskey Rebellion — When Farmers Fought for Bourbon

The Whiskey Rebellion of 1794 wasn’t just about taxes — it was a dramatic test of America’s young government and a turning point in bourbon history . On the Appalachian frontier, whiskey wasn’t just a drink. It was currency, ...

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Sept. 20, 2025

6 Types of Cigar Smokers Explained - Podcast Episode

Not every cigar smoker is the same. Some treat their cigar like a sacred ritual, while others light up casually at the weekend barbecue. That variety is what makes cigar culture so fascinating — it’s not just about tobacco, i...

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Sept. 15, 2025

Podcast Episode: Best Cigars for Special Occasions

Introduction Some moments deserve more than champagne or a toast — they deserve a cigar. In this podcast episode, we explore the best cigars for special occasions : from weddings and promotions to birthdays, anniversaries, an...

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Sept. 13, 2025

Seeds of Smoke: How the American Revolution Sparked Cigar Culture

The story of cigars in America doesn’t begin with factories in the 1800s or the iconic brands of the 20th century. It begins in the smoke-filled taverns of the Revolution, with a general’s pouch of seeds, warehouses set ablaz...

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Aug. 25, 2025

Mark Twain’s 300-Cigar Habit: Smoke and Storytelling

Mark Twain’s 300-Cigar Habit Mark Twain was more than a writer and humorist — he was one of history’s most notorious cigar smokers . His lifelong love of cigars became a defining part of his personality, and the anecdotes aro...

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July 31, 2025

Winston Churchill’s Legendary Cigar Rituals

Churchill’s Smoke-Filled War Rooms: The Iconic Leader and His Cigars How Winston Churchill’s Cigars Became Symbols of Power and Resilience Winston Churchill was rarely seen without a cigar, but his love for premium smokes was...

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